Axiomatic -
December 26, 2000 - Chris Jones
Disclaimer: The opinions expressed
within this column are those of the participants and the
moderator, and do not necessarily reflect those of the
GIA. There is coarse language and potentially offensive
material afoot. There's no snow down here, dammit.
Don't say we didn't warn you.
Yep, I'm back, and happy holidays to the lot of you. I've been
bouncing around the country for the past few
days, meeting up with friends and relatives, same as many of you
most likely, and so far it's been a good break. Thanks to Nich,
Drew, Jeremy, for doing their usual great job in covering for me,
and thanks to AK for covering me on Christmas - unasked, even.
You're welcome back any time, man.
So the good news is that a lot of folks currently have not only
bright shiny new games, but some time to actually enjoy them. On the flip
side, a lot of people are also probably away from their traditional
internet access, or are just too busy to read the column for the next few
days. Which is cool - there's more important stuff than the GIA, heresy
though it might be, and I'm back for the duration regardless.
Meantime, in an effort to boost my email count a bit, I'm gonna set up
a small feature here in the column over the next few days: a reader poll
on the best games of 2000. Here's the deal - through January 2nd, you can
drop me an
email with the subject line "2000 poll". All I'm looking for
is a ranked list of your top 5 games of the year, and if you really feel
like it, a short (~50 words) blurb on your favorite title of the year. At
the end of the period, I'll tally the votes up and put together a small
feature. Meantime, it's business as usual for the column, however
diminished.
Onward.
| Persona 2: tougher than
bear meat (which is apparently pretty tough) |
| Hey Chris!!(extra exclamation mark to welcome you
back)
Merry Christmas man!
I realise there's no review yet, but Persona II will probably be praised
to high heaven by the GIA. Frankly, I was a bit disappointed with it. It has
a great story(up to where I've played) and great characters, and I actually
liked the battle system, but man, talking about having to build your levels!
I've finished every single Playstation TRPG (traditional RPG)(except the
original Persona) without once having to stop and go back to build my
levels, up 'til now. This game is hard! I'm afraid it will have to make way
for Lunar 2 and Grandia 2 for the holiday season...
Oh yeah, I want to praise the entire site for not having a collective
holiday during the Christmas season. Thanks, all of you!
Sir Farren, out-Jokered. |
I've been so out of touch recently I haven't heard word one about
Persona 2, but if I had more time I'd likely take a look at it. Persona
2, freaky occultism and all, is very much along the lines of where I'd
like to see RPGs going - more character driven, psychology-heavy, in a
modern or near modern era. I'd be willing to put up with a fair amount
in pursuit of that goal... but only up to a point.
As for the site going on hiatus, for some weird reason, this past week
aside, I've actually been roped into doing MORE work for the site during
my semester break, so I dunno... maybe we just have some real hardasses
running this place.
| Taking the fantasy out
of Final Fantasy |
| This is to Drew or whoever is doing the column
today:
I presume that you've read the very small amount of information released on
FFX so I won't go over in details what it said. So here we go... What the
hell is with every single RPG in existence using goddamn dragons and summon
gods like Ifrit in every single game. Not only are they featured in the
games but in the last two Final Fantasies and the forthcoming installment
(from the info.), they have a major role in the story. I think that themes
and such can be used in stories that don't take place in reality, but I also
think that developers are driving this crap about dragons down our throats.
Sorry about this but I have to say it: I hate dragons, I hate dwarves, I
hate summonned monsters, I hate "monsters caused by some minor plot
element". RPGs are the kings of cliches. Is there an RPG out there with no
"monsters" (what is a monster exactly?)? The answer, probably not. And so
called "innovative" game companies aren't helping matters by reusing the
same ideas over and over again. I now realize why Final Fantasy is a game
series, because every game is the same.
FLIGHT
- I actually do like FF, but I hate everything too. |
Nothing we haven't heard before, but I'm always up for a rehash of
the classics. What else can I say, except that I agree with you, up to
a point: dragons, summoned monsters, swords and sorcery have all been
overused by now, but I think there's still some life in them when
they're done by the
right people. And while you and I might want to see things move
forward, there are plenty out there who play RPGs precisely to get
their fantasy world fix, and their money's just as green as ours.
| He wants more
diversification in RPGs, but the retro feel of FF9 is just peachy |
|
Chris,
First of all, a very Happy Holiday to you. (notice my extra-PC holiday
greeting). I hope you and everyone at the GIA got exactly what they wanted
this year. Dunno about you, but gifts are actually rather secondary to the
season. Andrew's essay pretty much summed up my view of the season. It
really does go beyond the Christian religion, something a little more
broad. We, as Americans, live in a world that is culturally diverse, and to
restrict a holiday to a narrow field pertaining to a select few would be
unfair. Still, it would be nice to see everyone else take an equal interest
in other holidays, like Chanukah, Quanza, and the Winter Solstice.
That said, here is the real reason I'm emailing you.
I tried to get this one through to Drew, but he had email probs. Jeremy's
bounced mine back as well. I'm not sure if you recall, but this is on the
topic of what I'd like to see in up and coming RPG's. So, here it is,
*again*, in all it's lack-luster glory:
As for what I would like to see in up-and-coming RPG's, I really don't
know. I like a lot of different elements when it comes to the games I play.
Sometimes I'm in a fantasy mood, sometimes I'm very sci-fi. Sometimes I
feel like blowing things up at random (Resident Evil, my hero) and
sometimes I feel like settling in for some deep and serious plot.
And sometimes I feel a little bit country, but I'm taking meds for
that.
I suppose I'd like to see more sci-fi RPGs, something similar to FFVIII,
but without the sappy romance, and more centered on science fiction. Maybe
one that takes place in space? I Dunno. In the immortal words of the late,
great Marty Feldman, "I'm easy".
Above all, I'd like to see RPGs take new paths, branch out farther into
uncharted territory, covering all sorts of topics and not just hold
themselves to the fantasy genre. How about a wild west RPG, something akin
to Wild Arms, but without the magic and technology? Or an RPG that takes
place entirely under water? Just a few suggestions.
And, last but not least, FF IX is seriously one of my favorites out of the
series, and I know that a lot of people will call me an idiot for that, but
I don't care. They can go screw themselves, repeatedly and without
lubricants, at my behest.
-Banjax. Ho-ho-hoing like a bad ass mo-fo. |
We've already gone over changes in RPGs, but I would like to see an
RPG that actually emphasized fighting as something a little more dynamic
than "swing the sword and the guy on the other side of the screen somehow
loses hit points." A wild west RPG with some of the bullet ballet seen in
a John Woo movie would be damn cool.
| Hypothesis |
| I think I figured out why AK retired!
Brian B. "AK's got a girlfriend! Ha Ha!" |
I have no idea what AK's current situation is, but falling in love is
hardly the worst fate imaginable. Here's wishing him good fortune,
regardless.
Closing Comments:
No topic for tomorrow, but I'm sure you've got some commentary by
now on your holiday loot, whether it be Lunar 2, Grandia 2, or
whatever. Just drop me a line, and I'll be here. Later.
-Chris Jones, thinks the
Vagrant Story OST sounds damn cool in late December |
